After reading my article on packing light, a reader recently asked how is it possible to travel to Hawaii with just carry-on luggage. I can certainly understand how that might be a mystery, especially for the first time vacationer to Hawaii. On my first and second visits to Hawaii, I way over packed. Now as a seasoned Hawaii traveler, I now know what to pack and what not to pack. So, how do I travel with just carry-ons? Here are my tried and true strategies.

1. Start with minimizing the number of shoes you bring.
Since shoes take up the most space in your luggage, make sure you minimize the number of shoes you’re bringing. Chose black and/or tan shoes that coordinate well with clothing. I usually only bring a pair of flip flops, hiking shoes, and a one or two pairs of sandals that goes with shorts, skirts, and a sundress.

2. Wear the shoes that occupy the most space on the plane to free up space in your luggage.

3. Choose a clothing color combination and stick with it. I usually select either tan, white, and/or black shorts that will coordinate with the one or two pairs of sandals I’m bringing.

4. Lay out all your clothes before you pack them. Don’t just pick a shirt from your closet and pack it directly into your luggage. Instead place your clothing on your bed before you pack anything in your case. By laying out your clothing, you can better visualize how your clothing will coordinate with each other and your shoes. You’ll be able to determine if you have any duplications or mismatches. I also try on most of the clothes I plan to take to check the fit, especially if it is in the winter and I haven’t worn my summer clothes in a while.

5. Don’t pack a completely different outfit for each day of your vacation. Go ahead and plan to re-wear some of your clothing, underwear excluded, of course.:-) You’ll probably want to re-wear your favorite pieces anyway. I love my travel-sized Febreze to Go to freshen clothing that I plan to wear again. If I get a spot, I use my Shout wipes. Also, don’t forget that you can take advantage of the hotel’s laundry service or if you are staying in a condo use the washer and dryer.

6. Don’t waste space by packing clothes you don’t love. Only pack your favorite clothing – the clothes that are flattering and make you feel confident. Those are the clothes you’ll want to wear on vacation.

I hope these practical strategies will help you to pack light for your travels. Are there any other tips you’d add for how you pack light?